2026-2027 AEC Scholarship Application

Purpose:
Aerospace Education Competitions (AEC) is committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to participation for any of our competitions. Scholarships may be available to support student participation based on financial need.

Please note that scholarships ONLY apply to the registration fee. Students selected for the International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC) Finals will be responsible for their own travel, flight, visa, and related expenses.

🚀 Space Settlement Design Competition Individual Essay Prompt

Tell us why you want to participate in a Space Settlement Design Competition.

This is your chance to share your story, what motivates you, and what you hope to learn and contribute during this engineering challenge.

You might consider:

• What inspired you to participate in this competition?
• What skills, experiences, or interests do you bring to an engineering design challenge like this?
• What excites you most about imagining and developing concepts for future space settlements?
• How do you approach problem solving, collaboration, and leadership under pressure?
• What impact do you hope your participation will have on your future goals or your community?

Your essay should reflect your voice, values, and goals. We are not looking for perfection. We are looking for authenticity, curiosity, and enthusiasm for the mission ahead.

Submission Requirements

Include the following at the top of your document:

• Full Name
• School Name
• Grade Level

Essay Guidelines

• Length: 300–600 words
• Format: Typed, clear paragraphs (no bullet points in the essay body)
• Accepted File Types: Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF (.pdf)
• File Name: LastName_FirstName_SSDC2027.docx or .pdf
• Tone: Professional but personal. Imagine introducing yourself to aerospace engineers and mission planners who are excited to see what you can do.

🚀 2027 AEC Global Qualifier – Team Essay Prompt

As a team, tell us why you want to participate in the 2027 AEC Global Qualifier.

This is your chance to share your team’s story: how you came together, what drives you, and what you hope to achieve through this challenge.

You might consider:

• What inspired your team to enter this competition?
• How do your different skills and perspectives come together to solve big problems?
• What excites you most about designing a future space settlement?
• How will you work together to balance creativity, engineering, and teamwork under pressure?
• What impact do you hope your team will make, both within the competition and beyond?

Your essay should reflect your collective voice, values, and goals. We’re not looking for perfection. We’re looking for authenticity, collaboration, and enthusiasm for the mission ahead.

 

Submission Requirements

Include the following at the top of your document:

Team Name

Full Names of All Team Members

School Name

Teacher/Advisor Full Name

Teacher/Advisor Email Address

 

Essay Guidelines

Length: 400–700 words, written collaboratively by the team

Format: Typed, clear paragraphs (no bullet points)

Accepted File Types: Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF (.pdf)

File Name: TeamName_QualifyingEssay2027.docx or .pdf

Tone: Professional but personal. Imagine introducing your team to a group of aerospace engineers and mission planners who are excited to see what you can do!

Teacher/Advisor Recommendation

A teacher, counselor, or mentor must submit a recommendation letter on your behalf.

Letters should:

Describe your academic or personal strengths.

Explain your dedication to learning, teamwork, and leadership.

Include examples of your interest in science, engineering, or design.

Be signed and include the recommender’s school information and contact information. 

The teachers email address must be an official school email address.